Lapboard for ironing machines



Feb. 21, 1950 A. H. GERHARDT LAP BOARD FOR IRONING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1945 K n W.

w R D Zia/awkw- M5 FrroEA/EY Patented Feb. 21, 1950 LAPBOARD FOR IRONING MACHINES Andrew H. Gerhardt, Skokie, Ill., assignor to Thor Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application August 24, 1945, Serial No. 612,356

2 Claims.

This invention relates to domestic types of ironing machines, and more particularly to a novel lap board construction and means for attaching the same to the machine proper. La'p boards for such machines usually serve as a rest or support for assisting the operator in manipulating articles preparatory to performing the ironing operation thereon, and also serve as a table or shelf for supporting ironed articles.

In the main, lap boards have heretofore been constructed in a manner so as to be permanently connected to the ironing machine and are usually formed and or mounted in a position and a manner which precludes efficient and convenient use.

One of the objects in the present invention is to provide a novel and improved lap board construction which may be quickly and easily detachably connected to the machine proper, and which is constructed and arranged to provide a shelf at one end of the machine for use in supporting ironed articles.

Another object is to provide a novel lap board construction wherein cooperating features are provided on the lap board and on the machine so as to quickly and easily detachably connect the lap board in operative position.

A further object is to provide an improved lap board construction comprising a pair of, separate panel members adapted to be detachably mounted on the machine in a substantially, aligned horizontal plane and connected together to form supporting panels in front and at opposite ends of the machine.

A still further object is to provide an improved lap board construction and mounting means therefor which is simple in construction, durable, practical, and capable of being economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is top plan view of an ironing machine provided with the novel lap board construction embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the machine with the lap boards in place, and with portions broken away to show details of construction.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view, part in section and part in elevation, taken substantially as indicated at line 33 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view through the plane of juncture of the two lap board members, and taken substantially as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the front of the base of the ironing machine, showing the escutcheon plate for receiving cooperating elements of the lap board members.

The ironing machine as illustrated in the drawing includes an elongated base (l0), having an upwardly extending support (I I), adjacent one end, providing support for and. enclosing driving connections to a rotatable, padded roll ([2). Mounted on the base is an upwardly extending support arm to which is pivotally mounted a shoe element (I 4), adapted to be moved into and out of cooperative relation with the roll, in a well understood manner. It is to be understood that machines of the type illustrated in the drawing are usually mounted on a suitable stand or cabinet support, which has not been shown as it forms no part of the present invention.

The base of the ironing machine includes a mai body (I6), formed of sheet metal and the front central portion therefor is provided with an escutcheon plate (l8), having an elongated, horizontally extending slot (l9) as seen in Figure 5. Said body (I6), is closed at opposite ends by dome shaped members (22), which are preferably in the form of castings, and each of said end members is provided with an elongated, horizontally extending slot (24), disposed in substantially the same horizontal planes as the slot ([9) of the escutcheon plate.

As shown in the drawing, the lap board construction embodying the present invention includes two angularly shaped members 25 and 26, of opposite formation, including main article supporting areas 25a and 26a and leg portions 25b and 2617 respectively. When these members are connected to the base of the ironing machine, the main article supporting portions are disposed at opposite ends of said base, and the leg portions are disposed in front of the base, as clearly seen in Figure 1 of the drawings. Rigidly connected as by screws (30) to the underside of the inner edge of the article supporting area of each lap board member is a lug or projection (3|) having an arcuately formed tongue (32). These projections are positioned so that the arcuately extending tongue is adapted to be inserted into and substantially occupy the cross sectional area of the slots (24) in the end members (22) of the base of the machine.

Mounted on the underside of and adjacent to the abutting ends of the leg portions of the lap board members are fittings (35) and (36) secured in place by'screws (31). Said fittings are each clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing,- thus securing the two lap board members in connected relation to the base of the ironing machine.

In applying the lap board members to the base of the ironing machine, one of the members, and

4 ing leg portion, and adapted to be operatively associated with said base in opposed, substantially horizontal relation with the main portions of said members disposed in close relation to and constituting shelves at each end of said base, and with the leg portions positioned in close relation to the front wall of the base with the outer free ends of said leg portions disposed in substantially abutting relation, means comprising cooperating interengaging features on said end and front walls of the base and at correspondingly related locations on the respective portions of each of said members for detachably securing said members to said base, and means for detachably locking the outer ends of said leg 1 portions of said members together for releasably for example the member 25, is first positioned so that the tongue projection 32 of the lug 3| is projected into the adjacent slot 24 at the end'" of the base of the machine, in a direction as in dicated by the arrow designated A. The lap board member is then rocked. in a horizontal plane in a direction such as indicated by the arrow B until the tongue 38 of the fitting 35 is seated in the slot 19 of the escutcheon plate. The other lap board member 26 is similarly mounted in place and the abutting ends of'the leg portions of the lap board members are firmly interconnected by the thumb screw 42 for sein molded plastics, or as sheet metal stampings...

When the members are formed as castings, preferably light weight metal is employed, such as aluminum.

Although I have herein shown and described a certain preferred embodiment of my invention,

manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore,

wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as I may be limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an ironing machine having an elongated base provided with afront, wall and a main article supporting portion and a connectsecuring said members in operative relation to the base.

2. In combination, anironing machine having an elongated base provided with a front wall and end walls, a lap board comprising two oppositely formed angularly shaped members each having a main article supporting portion and a connecting leg portion, and adapted to be operatively associated with said base-in opposed, substantially horizontal relation with the main portions of said members disposed in close relation to and constituting shelves at each end of said base, and with the leg portions positioned in close relation to the front wall of the base with the outer free ends of said leg portions disposed in substantially abutting relation, means comprising interengaging features on said end and front walls of the base and at correspondingly related a locations on the respective portions of each ofsaid members for detachably securing said members to said base, said means comprising horizontally disposed,- elongated slots in said end and front walls of the base, and cooperating,-

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 143,299 Gerhardt et al Dec. 25, 1945 1,452,696 Mock Apr. 24, 1923 1,464,260 Coover et al. Aug. '7, 1923 2,305,343 Gadbois Dec. 15, 1942 

